Clean Up The Internet
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
Independent, UK-based organisation concerned about the degradation in online discourse and its implications for democracy.
@internetclean on that other site...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@internetclean on that other site...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
"If Ofcom doesn’t give platforms clear enough guidance, there’s every risk of UK users encountering social media verification systems which don’t accept common forms of ID (e.g the Britcard), or require them to hand over excessive data"
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/what-co...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/what-co...
What could the UK government’s “BritCard” mean for identity verification on social media?
Whilst Clean Up The Internet remains agnostic on the need for mandatory Government ID, there are clear potential synergies between the BritCard and social media identity verification. But for them to ...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
October 20, 2025 at 1:12 PM
"If Ofcom doesn’t give platforms clear enough guidance, there’s every risk of UK users encountering social media verification systems which don’t accept common forms of ID (e.g the Britcard), or require them to hand over excessive data"
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/what-co...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/what-co...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
"Ofcom's Guidance on user identity verification should be seen as an acid-test of whether it's going to do its bit to deliver the government’s crime reduction ambitions"
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Reducing crime when money is tight: is Ofcom doing its bit?
Action on fake and anonymous accounts should be seen as an acid-test as to whether Ofcom is going to doing its bit to deliver the government’s crime reduction ambitions.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
August 11, 2025 at 10:56 AM
"Ofcom's Guidance on user identity verification should be seen as an acid-test of whether it's going to do its bit to deliver the government’s crime reduction ambitions"
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
Former Met Police Superintendent, Dal Babu #C4News
"We're missing the key issue: how do we regulate social media, who are responsible for spreading a lot of the hate crime, the misinformation, the far right accounts, that we saw in Southport"
"We're missing the key issue: how do we regulate social media, who are responsible for spreading a lot of the hate crime, the misinformation, the far right accounts, that we saw in Southport"
August 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Former Met Police Superintendent, Dal Babu #C4News
"We're missing the key issue: how do we regulate social media, who are responsible for spreading a lot of the hate crime, the misinformation, the far right accounts, that we saw in Southport"
"We're missing the key issue: how do we regulate social media, who are responsible for spreading a lot of the hate crime, the misinformation, the far right accounts, that we saw in Southport"
"Ofcom's Guidance on user identity verification should be seen as an acid-test of whether it's going to do its bit to deliver the government’s crime reduction ambitions"
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Reducing crime when money is tight: is Ofcom doing its bit?
Action on fake and anonymous accounts should be seen as an acid-test as to whether Ofcom is going to doing its bit to deliver the government’s crime reduction ambitions.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
August 11, 2025 at 10:56 AM
"Ofcom's Guidance on user identity verification should be seen as an acid-test of whether it's going to do its bit to deliver the government’s crime reduction ambitions"
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
Clean Up The Internet's founder @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/reducin...
"It’s not pragmatic to see something as “a price worth paying” unless you’re clear what the price is. And watering down the UK’s recently enacted online safety laws has the potential to be very expensive indeed."
@stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/us-uk-t...
@stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/us-uk-t...
US-UK Trade Deal - any negotiation around UK’s online safety laws must take into account the true costs of watering them down
Any watering down the UK’s recently enacted online safety laws has the potential to be very expensive indeed.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
May 8, 2025 at 8:06 AM
"It’s not pragmatic to see something as “a price worth paying” unless you’re clear what the price is. And watering down the UK’s recently enacted online safety laws has the potential to be very expensive indeed."
@stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/us-uk-t...
@stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/us-uk-t...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
This is just too important to get wrong.
“Watering down online safety rules to get a trade deal with Trump would be a huge mistake. Rules to keep our children safe, and to protect our society from hate and extremism, simply shouldn’t be up for negotiation." - our founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Starmer warned children will be at risk if he agrees US free speech demands
Claims that vice-president JD Vance is still pushing for online safety and hate speech laws to be repealed have alarmed campaigners
www.independent.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This is just too important to get wrong.
“Watering down online safety rules to get a trade deal with Trump would be a huge mistake. Rules to keep our children safe, and to protect our society from hate and extremism, simply shouldn’t be up for negotiation." - our founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Starmer warned children will be at risk if he agrees US free speech demands
Claims that vice-president JD Vance is still pushing for online safety and hate speech laws to be repealed have alarmed campaigners
www.independent.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
“Watering down online safety rules to get a trade deal with Trump would be a huge mistake. Rules to keep our children safe, and to protect our society from hate and extremism, simply shouldn’t be up for negotiation." - our founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
To put this in perspective, last year OnlyFans reported global revenue of $1.3billion and pre-tax profits of $658m. So this fine represents a 0.2% hit.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Ofcom fines provider of OnlyFans £1.05 million
Ofcom has today fined the provider of OnlyFans, Fenix International Limited, £1.05 million for failing to accurately respond to formal requests for information about its age assurance measures on the ...
www.ofcom.org.uk
March 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
To put this in perspective, last year OnlyFans reported global revenue of $1.3billion and pre-tax profits of $658m. So this fine represents a 0.2% hit.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
LBC are having an online safety day.
This is something that has been part of my professional life to various extents for over 17 years.
They have touched on algorithms and showing in appropriate content to young people.
For the platforms, that content IS a choice.
1/2
This is something that has been part of my professional life to various extents for over 17 years.
They have touched on algorithms and showing in appropriate content to young people.
For the platforms, that content IS a choice.
1/2
March 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
LBC are having an online safety day.
This is something that has been part of my professional life to various extents for over 17 years.
They have touched on algorithms and showing in appropriate content to young people.
For the platforms, that content IS a choice.
1/2
This is something that has been part of my professional life to various extents for over 17 years.
They have touched on algorithms and showing in appropriate content to young people.
For the platforms, that content IS a choice.
1/2
As the UK Parliament's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee continues its Inquiry into Social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms, here's a link to the evidence we submitted, which has been published on the committee website: www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/our-sub...
Our submission to the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee Inquiry
Clean Up The Internet submitted evidence to the UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into social media, misinformation, and harmful algorithms, ...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
February 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
As the UK Parliament's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee continues its Inquiry into Social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms, here's a link to the evidence we submitted, which has been published on the committee website: www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/our-sub...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
⏰ Starting at 930am. Watch it here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/... #onlinesafetyact
February 26, 2025 at 9:11 AM
⏰ Starting at 930am. Watch it here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/... #onlinesafetyact
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
I did know that this kind of thing was possible. But it’s pretty worrisome just how easy it is now.
Jim is being responsible but others won’t be. I think @cleanuptheinternet.org.uk are right. We need “verified human” account labels
Jim is being responsible but others won’t be. I think @cleanuptheinternet.org.uk are right. We need “verified human” account labels
Regarding this news story....
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It's proposing:
Welcome to Post-Tory Britain: Boil your water, dodge the potholes, hope your GP calls back. We deserve better. Fix the pipes, fix the system, fix the country. #InvestInCommunities #WaterCrisis
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It's proposing:
Welcome to Post-Tory Britain: Boil your water, dodge the potholes, hope your GP calls back. We deserve better. Fix the pipes, fix the system, fix the country. #InvestInCommunities #WaterCrisis
South London residents face a second day without water
Thames Water says it is working hard to fix the problem affecting thousands across six postcodes.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I did know that this kind of thing was possible. But it’s pretty worrisome just how easy it is now.
Jim is being responsible but others won’t be. I think @cleanuptheinternet.org.uk are right. We need “verified human” account labels
Jim is being responsible but others won’t be. I think @cleanuptheinternet.org.uk are right. We need “verified human” account labels
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
Some good articles in this week's Economist on the scale, sophistication, and general awfulness of the online scamming industry - including useful detail on how fake social media accounts are one of their key tools.
Online scams may already be as big a scourge as illegal drugs
And they are growing fast
www.economist.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Some good articles in this week's Economist on the scale, sophistication, and general awfulness of the online scamming industry - including useful detail on how fake social media accounts are one of their key tools.
Some good articles in this week's Economist on the scale, sophistication, and general awfulness of the online scamming industry - including useful detail on how fake social media accounts are one of their key tools.
Online scams may already be as big a scourge as illegal drugs
And they are growing fast
www.economist.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Some good articles in this week's Economist on the scale, sophistication, and general awfulness of the online scamming industry - including useful detail on how fake social media accounts are one of their key tools.
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
Chris articulates the question that so many of us have been asking for some time now.
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@andyburrows.bsky.social
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@andyburrows.bsky.social
February 3, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Chris articulates the question that so many of us have been asking for some time now.
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@andyburrows.bsky.social
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@andyburrows.bsky.social
"Sorting out social media is one of the urgent challenges of our age, and plodding regulatory conservatism isn’t good enough."
Spot on from @chrisblackhurst.bsky.social in the @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
Spot on from @chrisblackhurst.bsky.social in the @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
In the race to make social media safer, the UK is lagging dangerously behind
In an era of misinformation and damaging content, urgent action is needed to make the internet a safer place, writes Chris Blackhurst. So why is the regulator dragging its feet?
www.independent.co.uk
February 3, 2025 at 9:32 AM
"Sorting out social media is one of the urgent challenges of our age, and plodding regulatory conservatism isn’t good enough."
Spot on from @chrisblackhurst.bsky.social in the @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
Spot on from @chrisblackhurst.bsky.social in the @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
We have a serious problem with the pace and vigour of enforcement of laws brought in supposedly to create "the safest online environment in the world". Our MPs must be astonished at how little fruit their legislative efforts are bearing.
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@lukecharters.bsky.social
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@lukecharters.bsky.social
This is a great upsum of why civil society is so concerned about Ofcom’s flawed application of the #OnlineSafetyAct
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
January 30, 2025 at 6:07 PM
We have a serious problem with the pace and vigour of enforcement of laws brought in supposedly to create "the safest online environment in the world". Our MPs must be astonished at how little fruit their legislative efforts are bearing.
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@lukecharters.bsky.social
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
@lukecharters.bsky.social
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
This is a great upsum of why civil society is so concerned about Ofcom’s flawed application of the #OnlineSafetyAct
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
Ofcom publishes weakened Illegal Content Codes, and confirms delays to implementing user verification measures
Ofcom’s Illegal Content Codes are disappointing. A failure to include a measure on user identity verification is just one example of a flawed, overly timid approach.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
January 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
This is a great upsum of why civil society is so concerned about Ofcom’s flawed application of the #OnlineSafetyAct
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
Ofcom publishes weakened Illegal Content Codes, and confirms delays to implementing user verification measures
Ofcom’s Illegal Content Codes are disappointing. A failure to include a measure on user identity verification is just one example of a flawed, overly timid approach.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
January 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
This needed to be said.
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
Ofcom publishes weakened Illegal Content Codes, and confirms delays to implementing user verification measures
Ofcom’s Illegal Content Codes are disappointing. A failure to include a measure on user identity verification is just one example of a flawed, overly timid approach.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
January 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This needed to be said.
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
Ofcom publishes weakened Illegal Content Codes, and confirms delays to implementing user verification measures
Ofcom’s Illegal Content Codes are disappointing. A failure to include a measure on user identity verification is just one example of a flawed, overly timid approach.
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
January 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social , sets out why Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes are extremely disappointing - and why it makes no sense to delay user verification measures to tackle risks from fake and anonymous accounts
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
www.cleanuptheinternet.org.uk/post/ofcom-p...
Huge congratulations to Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social, on being named one of the Big Issue's "Changemakers of 2025" - richly deserved, for his work on Clean Up The Internet as well as the amazingly impactful @lawforchange.uk project!
www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
Big Issue's Changemakers of 2025: Politics and activism
The Changemakers driving change in 2025 - whether by taking big business and institutions to task or giving young people a say in politics.
www.bigissue.com
January 27, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Huge congratulations to Clean Up The Internet's founder, @stephenstroud.bsky.social, on being named one of the Big Issue's "Changemakers of 2025" - richly deserved, for his work on Clean Up The Internet as well as the amazingly impactful @lawforchange.uk project!
www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
www.bigissue.com/news/activis...
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
We've published our response - co-signed by 23 organisations & experts from our network - on the @ofcom.bsky.social #onlinesafetyact #illegalharms codes. Do read it to understand the depth of feeling across civil society about the regulator's approach. ⬇️ www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/sta...
Statement on Ofcom's Illegal Harms Code of Practice
Statement from the Online Safety Act Network in response to Ofcom's final Illegal Harms Codes of Practice
www.onlinesafetyact.net
January 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
We've published our response - co-signed by 23 organisations & experts from our network - on the @ofcom.bsky.social #onlinesafetyact #illegalharms codes. Do read it to understand the depth of feeling across civil society about the regulator's approach. ⬇️ www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/sta...
As bluesky gains more legit users, it risks also gaining more bad actors using fake accounts to spread scams, disinformation, and hate. To avoid this, @safety.bsky.app needs to improve its approach to user verification.
As clever as using domains for verification is, I don't think it's enough on its own. Bluesky has a labelling system. They really should implement a verification labeller that everyone's subscribed to by default, and Bluesky can use to then manually verify accounts that apply for it.
Another Imposter - fake account , responding to people in the middle of the Wildfire disaster. Thank you to those that alerted me and thank you for reporting the account.
January 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM
As bluesky gains more legit users, it risks also gaining more bad actors using fake accounts to spread scams, disinformation, and hate. To avoid this, @safety.bsky.app needs to improve its approach to user verification.
Reposted by Clean Up The Internet
One thing the government could do is to issue clear instructions to @ofcom.bsky.social to pick up the pace and vigour of enforcement of the Online Safety Act.
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk
January 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
One thing the government could do is to issue clear instructions to @ofcom.bsky.social to pick up the pace and vigour of enforcement of the Online Safety Act.
@cleanuptheinternet.org.uk